Related Categories:

Garmin FR70 Heart Rate Monitor Reviews:

Positive Reviews:

Works fine, no problems

I purchased this about 6 months ago, and despite regular use, I have never had a problem with the heart rate monitor. It connects immediately and maintains the connection regardless of my activity. I use it for running outside, working out at the gym and for higher impact activities too, and it has never failed, I am quite satisfied with the device.

How am I doing?

I haven't been able to figure out how to add V02 Max or fitness age calibration, not sure it's possible. It allows entry of an 'activity class' which is pretty broad - it would be nice to have it calibrate to my specific max and resting heart rates.

Excellent product and easy to use!

Negative Reviews:

Makes Me Miss My Old Polar

I've use Polar HRMs for many years. When my last one died I wanted to replace it but I didn't like the new straps. I decided to try Garmin since I use Garmin computers on my bikes. I really want to like this but it lets me down regularly.

My main issue is that the heart rate reading stops and clears which stops the calorie burn number. Those numbers are the reason I wear a HRM! I did a fitness test today and my number are useless because my monitor stopped reading my heart rate repeatedly during the test. After a very painful test I came out with useless numbers so all the pain and suffering of the test were for naught. This test is very physically demanding so I can't repeat it until my HRM decides to work.

Thank goodness for REI's return policy because I'm giving this thing a little while longer and if it doesn't pull through it's going back. I'll update review.

Going back...

Just can't seem to find a Garmin running watch that the HRM registers correctly on me. I hoped this one would be different, but right out of the box and can't get a reading. Finally get a 84 reading that keeps turning off. Then when I started running it dropped to 79. Hum, first 84 was too high to begin with (for me). Second, it should not drop when running. Third, it kept dropping off completely. Also, buttons very hard to press. Going back the day I brought it. Off to buy a polar.

Disappointing product by Garmin

This monitor keeps dropping my heart rate during workouts. I've tried changing both watch and chest strap batteries. Should have returned it and got a Polar while I still could. My gym friends with those have no issues. I've had it for a little over a year but had problems right off the bat. Buttons are hard to press but that is not as big of a deal as it not tracking my heart rate!!

Buttons are hard to push

I LOVED this watch and wore it daily for about two weeks. I started noticing after a couple of uses that the buttons were super difficult to push. I would be on the treadmill or trail waiting forever to start my race as I was waiting on the buttons to work and just start the watch. I had to return it because I could not rely on it to start.

Took it back

I took this monitor back. The monitor would not keep going during workouts. I'd get it going, I looked down and it would be back at the watch and nothing would have calculated. Totally not the point of what I wanted this for which is to increase my fitness to lower my blood pressure.

Unusable

The buttons on this didn't work at all. There was no way to turn the watch on for initial set-up because the "mode" button was completely unresponsive. What a disappointment after spending so much money; this was literally completely useless.

Neutral Reviews:

Good, but not great

As with other Garmin products, the user's guide is available on line and it's not included with the product. That's a minor annoyance. I really don't like having to log onto my computer and go online to try to figure out how to use a product.

I'd hoped to set up intervals on my watch. I set it up for a five minute warm up, five 2:1 intervals, then a five-minute cool down. As it turns out, the interval function is worthless. It doesn't beep to alert me time has elapsed. (Or maybe it will, but I haven't figured out how to do that yet because I don't have a user guide to look at while I'm playing with the watch.) Given that I'm running in the dark this time of year, I want an audible warning.

And, to go from one interval period to another, you have to keep pushing the lap/reset or start/stop buttons. (I've only managed to do it right a couple of times, so I'm not sure what the magic combination is.) And then I discovered that it thinks I want to do a five-minute cool down after each interval. So I've given up - I'll go back to using Endomondo on my phone to alert me each time a minute has passed.

Also, while the watch was running the interval program, it does not alert me when my heart rate is too low or too high. I'd still like to know those things.

I could not get my desktop to recognize the ANT thingie, but after a coule of tries my laptop recognized it. I really like the features on Garmin Connect.

I may eventually figure out how to best use this thing. My opinion of it may change as time passes. I'm still trying to figure out how to make my Garmin 510 do the things I want it to do.

Bottom line: I don't hate it. I'm not in love with it. I doubt any other HRM would be any better, though, so I'm in no hurry to trade it in for another type. (I've had HRMs made by four different makers, but this & the 501 are my first designed to upload information.)